Mon March 24, 2014

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry says it was wrong for Police Chief Gorden Eden to say officers were justified in killing a homeless camper in the Sandia foothills. And Berry said Monday he wants to bring in outsiders to help investigate.

In a rare show of public displeasure with the city's troubled police department, Berry criticized Albuquerque's new police chief for making a "premature" judgment about the fatal shooting that left 38-year-old James Boyd dead.

Authorities said Boyd died after officers unloaded stun guns, bean bags and six live rounds. Eden said Boyd threatened to kill officers and held onto knives as an unarmed K-9 officer approached him.

A helmet camera video showed Boyd gathering his belongings then turning away right before officers fired.

Protest Of Albuquerque Police Shooting Planned - The Associated Press

Demonstrators are planning to protest the shooting of a man in the Sandia foothills by Albuquerque police.

A coalition of various groups will gather downtown Tuesday at 6 p.m. before marching to Albuquerque police headquarters.

Police Chief Gorden Eden says that two officers unloaded three shots each after a 38-year-old James Boyd made threatening moves and refused to drop a knife.

Gorden says police first used bean-bags and stun guns to try to disarm the man.

Gov. Susana Martinez has clamped down on the Legislature's watchdog committees in what lawmakers consider an attempt to limit their oversight of the Republican governor's agencies.

Administration agencies are telling the Legislative Finance Committee and the Legislative Education Study Committee their requests for information must go to the governor's chief of staff to be approved before information will be provided.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is to visit New Mexico this week to raise campaign money for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.

Martinez political spokesman Danny Diaz said Bush will attend a fundraiser Tuesday in Farmington and another in Santa Fe on Wednesday.

Central Consolidated School District announced that Bush, Martinez and Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera will speak at an elementary school in Shiprock Wednesday morning.

Bush served two terms as governor, first winning election in 1998.

Martinez has advocated some of the educational policies that Bush implemented in Florida, including holding back third-graders who can't read proficiently and giving schools A-to-F grades and performance-based pay bonuses for teachers.

Martinez's education secretary, Hanna Skandera, worked for the Bush administration in Florida as a deputy commissioner of education.

Thousands Run In White Sands Bataan Memorial March - The Las Cruces Sun-News

More than a dozen World War II veterans who lived through the Bataan Death March helped cheer on thousands at this year's memorial march at White Sands Missile Range.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that more than 6,200 people walked or ran Sunday morning in the 25th annual Bataan Memorial Death March, which spans a marathon-length of 26.2 miles.

The day began with a ceremonial tribute to the survivors and soldiers who have died in the past year.

The Bataan Memorial Death March honors the World War II soldiers who suffered during the April 1942 march after thousands of American and Filipino service members surrendered to Japanese forces. Many died during the 80-mile march or became prisoners of war.